foul play

noun

Definition of foul playnext
1
as in murder
the intentional and unlawful taking of another person's life the coroner ruled that there was no evidence of foul play

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in violence
the use of brute strength to cause harm to a person or property the suspect has a long history of foul play, and was once convicted on assault and battery charges

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of foul play Police said there were no signs of trauma or foul play and homicide detectives are investigating. — Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 June 2026 Authorities said there are no indications of foul play, and preliminary findings suggest the car was functioning properly. — Paloma Chavez, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026 The contact had prompted the video assistant referee (VAR) to recommend an on-field review and eventually Balogun was issued a red card for serious foul play and automatically suspended for one game. — Kelly McCarthy, ABC News, 2 July 2026 The Sutter County Sheriff’s Office said in a social media post that Sandra Banta’s cause of death remains under investigation, but investigators do not believe foul play was involved. — Evelyn Ronan, Sacbee.com, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for foul play
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foul play
  1. murder
  2. violence
  3. homicide
  4. blood
  5. killing
Noun
  • Diaz, 52, suffered burns to her arm and stomach while trying to incinerate the car and was soon charged with Lopez’s murder, according to a court transcript and a criminal complaint.
    — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
  • His son, Nick Reiner, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of his parents.
    — Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 7 July 2026
Definition of murder
Noun
  • Was remembers the tumult, violence and hope that came out of that era in his hometown of Detroit.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
  • But the comments from Raia provide the clearest public indication yet that the FBI's Joint Mission Center, established earlier this year to coordinate the bureau's response to domestic political violence, is producing tangible investigative results.
    — Asra Q. Nomani , Morgan Phillips, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of violence
Noun
  • Police in Georgia recovered some of Warren's property and other items relevant to the homicide investigation a few days later, discarded behind a Cracker Barrel restaurant, according to prosecutors.
    — Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 8 July 2026
  • Nocturne tells the story of Jonah Lynn (Schreiber), an ex-soldier turned homicide detective who, tired of working the tough streets of Philadelphia, moves to a small town in Western Pennsylvania for a quiet life.
    — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 7 July 2026
Definition of homicide
Noun
  • Diseases that damage the kidneys and impair their ability to filter blood were blamed for 55,081 deaths in 2024.
    — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
  • Pomegranates also contain vitamin K and folate, which can help support healthy blood clotting and cell growth, respectively.
    — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 2 July 2026
Definition of blood
Noun
  • Years of crippling sanctions have paralysed the economy as accelerating bouts of mass nationwide protests have been put down by security forces with increasing force — culminating in the killing of thousands of demonstrators in January.
    — Parisa Hafezi, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • Six other men were also on trial for charges related to the riot, but not for having a role in the killing.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 July 2026
Definition of killing

Browse Nearby Words

foulness
foul play
fouls
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Foul play.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foul%20play. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on foul play

Nglish: Translation of foul play for Spanish Speakers

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